165 results Slovak Telekom: ECJ on essentials of the ‘essential facilities’ doctrine Only dominant companies with a “genuinely tight grip” on the market can be forced to grant rivals access to their infrastructure. ECJ in Pometon: beware of too much info in staggered hybrid proceedings In hybrid cartel proceedings (in which one party opts out of settlement), settlement decisions should not pre-judge the outcome of the Commission's investigation into non-settling parties. Court bundles educational publishers merger off to ACM for reassessment Digital mergers have steered competition authorities away from their usual mantra of structural over behavioural remedies. The Rotterdam District Court recently gave its blessing to the ACM’s remedies for securing access to a digital school platform. Financial Regulatory – Update Q1 2021 Traditionally, 1 January (and 1 July) each year is a date on which new Dutch financial regulations enter into force. This year, the amendments to the Dutch Financial Supervision Act are relatively few, but other developments are worthy of attention. Game over? Gaming companies fined for geo-blocking The Commission’s cross-border sales crusade seems far from over. The EUR 7.8 million fine imposed on distribution platform owner Valve and five PC video games publishers for geo-blocking practices is the most recent notch in the Commission’s belt. Sustainability solutions sussed out soon More antitrust clarity has arrived for companies involved in sustainability collaborations. The EC published draft revised rules on horizontal cooperation agreements and the ACM informally approved two green initiatives in the energy sector. Employers beware: final warning for “job cartels” Only months after suspending an investigation into a possible wage-fixing cartel, the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has warned employers, employers’ organisations, and trade associations to not engage in no-poach agreements. Pfizer may be off the hook, but ACM pharma supervision continues Pharma companies beware: discount schemes by former patent owners raise red flags at competition authorities. Digital Law Up(to)date: The cookie consent framework of IAB Europe violates the GDPR On 2 February 2022, the Belgian Data Protection Authority considered that the Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF) developed by Interactive Advertising Bureau Europe (IAB) violates the GDPR. Second time lucky: Intel’s EUR 1.06 billion loyalty rebate fine quashed Intel’s second round at the General Court was significantly more successful than its first. In the first round, the General Court had failed to analyse whether the loyalty rebates at issue were capable of restricting competition. In the second round, afte Are you ready for the new Dutch and EU transactional hurdles? Companies beware: new Dutch and EU transactional hurdles are coming closer. In the Netherlands, new national security investment screening rules are imminent. Dutch Spring Memorandum, EU’s DEBRA Proposal and the 2021 Annual Report Advance Tax Rulings On Friday 20 May 2022, the Dutch Ministry of Finance published the 2022 Spring Memorandum (Voorjaarsnota), including various proposed amendments that are relevant to international businesses, On 11 May 2022. the EU Commission issued a draft directive pro Navigating access refusals after the ECJ’s Google Android Auto-ruling Big Tech faces challenges when denying third parties access to its open platforms. The European Court of Justice has ruled that a dominant company’s refusal to make its open platform compatible with a third-party app may be abusive. Impact of Belgium’s Government Agreement on the Future of Competition Law On 31 January 2025, Belgium's Government Agreement for 2025-2029 was published, focusing on strengthening competition, safeguarding tech expertise, and increasing subsidy transparency. However, more steps are needed to define practical implementation. C'est le ton qui fait la musique – The end of employer copyrights? The CJEU decision in the National Orchestra of Belgium decision shakes up employer copyright in the Netherlands. With new consent and compensation requirements, are your employment contracts still airtight? Discover the implications of the decision here. Tax Controversy Netherlands: Update March 2024 This Tax Alert addresses certain recent developments concerning procedural tax law in the Netherlands. Supreme Court abandons distinction between primary-coverage clauses and preventive-warranty clauses. Good riddance? The Dutch Supreme Court handed down an important decision on 16 February 2024 on the restrictive standard of reasonableness and fairness with respect to insurance policies. FAQ: What will change with the entry into force of the Woo compared to the Wob? An update The Open Government Act (“Woo”) is to replace the Government Information (Public Access) Act (“Wob”). The Woo initiative proposal was passed in the Dutch House of Representatives in 2016; see our earlier Stibbeblog. Pagination Previous page Page 2 Current page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Next page
Slovak Telekom: ECJ on essentials of the ‘essential facilities’ doctrine Only dominant companies with a “genuinely tight grip” on the market can be forced to grant rivals access to their infrastructure.
ECJ in Pometon: beware of too much info in staggered hybrid proceedings In hybrid cartel proceedings (in which one party opts out of settlement), settlement decisions should not pre-judge the outcome of the Commission's investigation into non-settling parties.
Court bundles educational publishers merger off to ACM for reassessment Digital mergers have steered competition authorities away from their usual mantra of structural over behavioural remedies. The Rotterdam District Court recently gave its blessing to the ACM’s remedies for securing access to a digital school platform.
Financial Regulatory – Update Q1 2021 Traditionally, 1 January (and 1 July) each year is a date on which new Dutch financial regulations enter into force. This year, the amendments to the Dutch Financial Supervision Act are relatively few, but other developments are worthy of attention.
Game over? Gaming companies fined for geo-blocking The Commission’s cross-border sales crusade seems far from over. The EUR 7.8 million fine imposed on distribution platform owner Valve and five PC video games publishers for geo-blocking practices is the most recent notch in the Commission’s belt.
Sustainability solutions sussed out soon More antitrust clarity has arrived for companies involved in sustainability collaborations. The EC published draft revised rules on horizontal cooperation agreements and the ACM informally approved two green initiatives in the energy sector.
Employers beware: final warning for “job cartels” Only months after suspending an investigation into a possible wage-fixing cartel, the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has warned employers, employers’ organisations, and trade associations to not engage in no-poach agreements.
Pfizer may be off the hook, but ACM pharma supervision continues Pharma companies beware: discount schemes by former patent owners raise red flags at competition authorities.
Digital Law Up(to)date: The cookie consent framework of IAB Europe violates the GDPR On 2 February 2022, the Belgian Data Protection Authority considered that the Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF) developed by Interactive Advertising Bureau Europe (IAB) violates the GDPR.
Second time lucky: Intel’s EUR 1.06 billion loyalty rebate fine quashed Intel’s second round at the General Court was significantly more successful than its first. In the first round, the General Court had failed to analyse whether the loyalty rebates at issue were capable of restricting competition. In the second round, afte
Are you ready for the new Dutch and EU transactional hurdles? Companies beware: new Dutch and EU transactional hurdles are coming closer. In the Netherlands, new national security investment screening rules are imminent.
Dutch Spring Memorandum, EU’s DEBRA Proposal and the 2021 Annual Report Advance Tax Rulings On Friday 20 May 2022, the Dutch Ministry of Finance published the 2022 Spring Memorandum (Voorjaarsnota), including various proposed amendments that are relevant to international businesses, On 11 May 2022. the EU Commission issued a draft directive pro
Navigating access refusals after the ECJ’s Google Android Auto-ruling Big Tech faces challenges when denying third parties access to its open platforms. The European Court of Justice has ruled that a dominant company’s refusal to make its open platform compatible with a third-party app may be abusive.
Impact of Belgium’s Government Agreement on the Future of Competition Law On 31 January 2025, Belgium's Government Agreement for 2025-2029 was published, focusing on strengthening competition, safeguarding tech expertise, and increasing subsidy transparency. However, more steps are needed to define practical implementation.
C'est le ton qui fait la musique – The end of employer copyrights? The CJEU decision in the National Orchestra of Belgium decision shakes up employer copyright in the Netherlands. With new consent and compensation requirements, are your employment contracts still airtight? Discover the implications of the decision here.
Tax Controversy Netherlands: Update March 2024 This Tax Alert addresses certain recent developments concerning procedural tax law in the Netherlands.
Supreme Court abandons distinction between primary-coverage clauses and preventive-warranty clauses. Good riddance? The Dutch Supreme Court handed down an important decision on 16 February 2024 on the restrictive standard of reasonableness and fairness with respect to insurance policies.
FAQ: What will change with the entry into force of the Woo compared to the Wob? An update The Open Government Act (“Woo”) is to replace the Government Information (Public Access) Act (“Wob”). The Woo initiative proposal was passed in the Dutch House of Representatives in 2016; see our earlier Stibbeblog.